Parkway-cable terminal



Aprii 24, 1928. 1,657,555

W. H. B. LAVARACK ET AL PARKWAY CABLE TERMINAL Filed Sept. 28. 1926INVENTORS W 5570mm;

dented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITEQ .STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

"WILLIAM H. B. LAVAEACK, OF PINEBUSH, NEW YORK, AND DANIEL W. RICHARDS,OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA.

IPARKWAY-CABLE TERMINAL.

' Application filed September 28, 1926. Serial No. 138,162.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and particularly aconnector suitable for use on the end of what is known as a parkwaycable.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a connector orterminal for a parkway cable, which will be inexpensive to manufacture,easy to install and when installed will completely protect the end ofthe park way cable from the entrance of water or moisture.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of theparticular physical embodiment, selected to illustrate the inven tionprogresses, and the novel features of the invention will be particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, and the particular physicalembodiment selected to illustrate the invention, reference is had to theaccompanying drawing, wlmrein we. have illustrated a particularpreferred physical emlmdiment of our invention, and where likecharacters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a rail, a parkway cable con ectedto the rail, and our improved parkway cable terminal in place on thecable; Fig. is a cross sectional view illustrating the internalconstruction of our improved parkway cable terminal; Fig. 3, is a crosssectional view on the plane indicated by the line Il11ll of Fig. 2,viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 1,is a cross sectional view of a modified form of parkway cable terminalmade in accordance with our invention; Fig. 5, is a cross sectional viewon the plane indicated by the line VV oi- Fig. l, viewed in thedirection of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. (3, is a sectionalview illustrating the construction of a parkway cable.

In the drawings and particularly Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates anordinary trackway rail resting on cross ties 2. 3 designates theordinary and well-known parkway cable which is held rigidly clamped byany of the well-known means, and preferably by clamp 4 to the rail 1. Tdesignates generally our improved parkway cable terminal, which isconnected by means of the bond wires 5 to the rail 1, by the use of thedouble grooved channel pin 6.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the terminal T, is formedas a somewhat eylindrical body, having a part of major dimension 7 and apart of minor dimension 8. The part of major dimension 7 is providedwith a cavity of major dimension '9. Into this cavity, the parkway cable'3 extends, and an insulating washer is interposed between the parkwaycable 3 and the bottom of the cavity 9. Applicants also, after placingthe parkway cable in the terminal as shown by Fig. 2, with a washerinterposed, then run, insulating material 10, around the cable so as totill all of the interstices between the cable and the terminal T. Theinsulating washer 1-0 is placed in the bottom of the cavity, because asshown by F ig. 6, the parkway cable has a central conductor 11,surrounded by various layers of insulating and protecting material. Oneof these layers 12 is made oi metal, and is generally iron or steelribbon wound about the cable. There is also generally provided a leadsheath 13. In order to prevent the lead sheath and the iron or steelribbon sheath from touching the metal ol the terminal, the insulatingwasher i0 is used, made of any insulating material, such, for instance,as fiber or hard rubber.

In the form of the terminal as shown by Fig. 2, a cavity 14 of minordimensions connects with and forms a prolongation of the cavity of majordimension, and in addition two cavities 15 and 16 extend longitudinallyof the terminal in the portion of minor dimension at the end of theterminal opposite to that in which the parkway cable is positioned.These three last cavities all open into a transverse cavity 17 formed inthe portion of minor dimensions, which cavity 17 may be considered oneof intermediate dimensions. Vithin the cavities 15 and 16, arepositioned the bond wires 5 and within the cavity 1 1 is positioned,conductor 11 of the parkway cable.

In order to make a firm and lasting union, and to exclude moisture, thecavity 17 after the conductors 5 and 11 are inserted therein, is filledwith a soldering metal such as tin and lead as is usual, which firmlyholds the conductors, as 5 and 11, which are of copper, with theterminal T, which we prefer to make of brass.

In Fig. 1, and in cross section in Fig. 5, we have shown a slightlymodified form of our terminal, in that the bond wire corre- Although wehave particularly described the construction of physical embodiments ofouixinvention, and explained the operation and principle thereof,nevertheless, we desire to have it understood that the forms selectedare merely illustrative but do not exhaust the possible physicalembodiments of the idea of means underlying our invention.

- What weclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. In a parkway cable connection, in combination: a parkway cable; arail; a bond wire electrically connected to the rail and having a freeend; a metallic body provided with a cavity in one end; an insulatingwasher interposed between the cable and the bottom of the cavity;insulating material filling all interstices between the cable and thewalls of the cavity; said body formed with a transverse cavityintermediate its ends and orifices through which the cable and the freeend of the bond into the transverse cavity and soldering metal fillingthe transverse cavity and surrounding the conductor andthe bond wire. 7

2. In a cable connector, in combination: a metallic body formed withcavity for receiving 'a cable, an orifice for receiving a conductor of acable and an orifice for receiving a conductor for electrical connectionwith the conductor of the cable and an orifice connecting the last twonamed orifices't'or receiving a solderinginetal.

3. As an article of manufacture a somewhat cylindrical metal body formedwith a longitudinal cavity in one end of major diincnsions, and acontinuation thereof oi? minor dimensions and a longitudinal cavity ofminor dimensions in the other end and a transverse cavityoi somewhatintermediate dimensions connecting the last two mentioned cavities.

WILLIAM H. B. LAVARACK. DANIEL VV. RICHARDS.

